Category Archives for "Cannabis Culture"

Does cannabis reduce tobacco use? An important question asked these days. Cannabis has been called the devils weed, a schedule 1 drug, and many other names that give the natural occurring plant a bad rep. It is hypothesized that vaping cannabis extracts and using cannabis in general leads to a reduction of the amount of tobacco being consumed.

Some argue that there is no direct relationship between the use of tobacco and cannabis. Others argue the gateway effect or the reverse gateway effect. An additional argument is that the relationship between the two could be due to a psychological association or chemical relationship.

One thing we can agree on, the data collection and research required to make a more educated argument is something that should exist. The tobacco industry has had dark shadow looming over the younger generations for many decades. It would be nice to see a safer alternative substance take the place of tobacco consumption.

Ways Vaping Cannabis Reduces Tobacco Use

A few notable points can be made in favor of the argument that vaping cannabis reduces tobacco use.

Less Spliffs

In most of Europe one of the most popular ways that people consume cannabis is from a 'spliff'. A spliff is a hybrid joint/cigarette that contains part cannabis and part tobacco. In North America people use spliffs as well, but a higher percentage of straight cannabis users. A correlation can be made here that there is a connection between the two substances on the basis of 'psychological association'.

Tobacco in spliffs is used as a filler to make joints last longer. If more cannabis users are using an oil vaporizer they are not being tempted to add extra dry leaf material to make it bigger and longer lasting. One could argue that people will simply switch to a new product that combines tobacco/nicotine juice with THC vape juice. Which in the end would solve nothing. This is a valid argument. However, studies have shown that people who vape cannabis extracts don't mix tobacco concentrates with it. At least not on the same scale as those who mix dry leaf material to create spliffs.

Prevents use by younger generations

This ties a little into the use of spliffs, but as generations continue to get older we will hopefully see a decrease in tobacco users stemming from younger generations. As the influence from older generations gets reduced it will have less of a domino's effect on the ones that follow.

Fights addiction

There are studies done in Canada that propose cannabis is helpful not only in effective pain management but as a substance that helps to fight addiction. There are many studies that try to make a case that cannabis is not a gateway drug. These studies I feel will always show conflicting results as some people can become addicted to the different aspects of cannabis and not necessarily the substance itself.

Prefer cannabis more

A reason that contributes to a reduction in tobacco users is that people prefer cannabis over tobacco. If both were the same price and both as easily accessible, cannabis would be the more popular choice. If people are spending there time on one thing they will often lose interest in another.

Real world observations

It's hard to test the hypothesis that vaping cannabis reduces tobacco use as a study. Test subjects knowing this test is being conducted they may be effected by being aware of the test. For a more educated conclusion on whether or not vaping cannabis reduces tobacco use, real world statistics should be gathered. As time progresses we will be able to gather information and compare the two in more detail.

Conclusion

The data collection and research required to make a more educated argument is something that should exist. The tobacco industry has had dark shadow looming over the younger generations for many decades. It would be nice to see a safer substance that people choose to use in place of tobacco/nicotine.

What are vapes and vaporizers? Understanding the terminology of vaporizers can be a daunting task. I myself though it was pretty cut and dry before I actually attempted to understand them all my self a few years back. I originally thought that there was just one basic type of vaporizer and that there would be different brands that make them. This is far from reality and today we will help you to understand all the different types of vaporizers.

What are Vapes and Vaporizers

The two main types of vaporizers we will touch on and the ones that we review here at WorldofVapes are cannabis vaporizers and flavored e-liquid vapes. Cannabis vaporizers come in the form of desktop models and portable models, while flavored e-liquid vapes come in just portable models. After you get a better understanding of the terminology we have a guide that can help you in choosing the best vaporizer.

Cannabis Vaporizers

Cannabis vaporizers are designed to vape the active ingredients in the cannabis plant. Desktop vaporizers are ones that need an external power source to work. Desktop vaporizers are stationary and are made for home use. Some desktop vaporizers have attachments that allow for more then one person to use it at the same time (group session). Portable vaporizers include the heating component and an on board battery that allows you to vape while on the go. For additional vaporizer advice you can read you tips and tricks article here to get the most out of your sessions.

Terminology and Types of Portable Cannabis Vaporizers

Portable vaporizers is where the terminology gets a bit trickier. Under the umbrella of portable vaporizers there are multi material vaporizers, dry herb vaporizers, and concentrate / extract vaporizers.

Multi material vaporizers - designed to vape 2 or ore mediums of material. Most multi material vaporizers are designed to vape dry herbs and thicker concentrates such as waxes. Some multi material vaporizers have been made to vape dry herbs, concentrates, and e-liquids.

Dry herb vaporizers - the most popular type of portable vaporizer is the dry herb vaporizer. Designed to do only as the name suggests, dry herb vaporizers vape only loose leaf materials.

Concentrate / Extract vaporizers - there are a number of different types of devices designed to vape concentrates. There are:

Wax pens - shaped like a pen, some made to resemble a pen. Great for using on the go and designed to fit easily in your pocket.

Concentrate vaporizer - same same but different.. these can be considered to look similar to portable dry herb vaporizers (and not pen shaped) while being made to vape cannabis concentrates.

E-nails - these are concentrate vaporizers that use a water attachment and a nail that heats up. You use a carb cap to trap the heat in with your dab. E-nails can come as full kits or as just the attachment. Many e-nail attachments are being made to work with battery mods that most people use for e-liquid vaporizers.

Flavored E-Liquid Vapes

The most popular type of portable vaporizer is called a 'vape'. To answer the original question 'what are vapes' - vapes are widely used devices across the world that are used to vape flavored e-liquids. Most vape users use a percentage of nicotine with their e-liquids which in many cases help to ease people off the nicotine/smoking habits. You can check out some of the best vape here.

If you want to take the vaping experience outdoors, there are a few things to consider on how to choose the best vaporizer. How are you going to power it? Is it going to be robust enough to withstand being carried about in a bag or pocket? How discrete do you need to be when you’re vaping? How easy will it be to use? Will the vapor quality it produces be worth the hassle? How much do you want to spend?

Basically, the choice for a cannabis vaporizer will be between a portable vaporizer, a vape pen, or a pre-filled vaporizer. Vaporizers is an umbrella term that is used to encompass multi material vaporizers, dry herb vaporizers, and cannabis extract vaporizers. Extract vaporizers, known more commonly as concentrate vaporizers come in the form of wax pens, enails, and pre filled THC and CBD vaporizer pens.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the features you should be looking for in a portable vaporizer, to help you decide which one’s for you. If you already know the type of vaporizer you are looking for you can enter into one of the following price categories to browse the best devices.

Vaping material - How to choose the best vaporizer

The first question to ask yourself is what do you want to vape. You have three choices of mediums to vape either THC dominant or CBD dominant cannabis:

dry herbs - these are the most common vaping material, they work out cheaper than the alternatives, and they’re easy to prepare. Bear in mind, however, that you’ll have to have a grinder to prepare your herbs for vaping. This is something else you’ll have to tote around with you, along with your herbs themselves and your vaporizer.

waxes - these are more concentrated, produce more vapor, give a stronger effect. The downside is that they’re more expensive, and they can leave a sticky residue inside your vape chamber which can be a pain to remove.

Oils and Liquids - these are convenient and easy to tote around. CBD oil is a cannabis compound that does not include psychoactive effects and BHO (butane hash oil) is high potency THC.

Many portable vaporizers are designed for use with any of the above materials. Some require attachments for use with e-fluids. To be honest, if you’re going to vape e-fluid, you’d be better off with a pen. But what you’re vaping is an important consideration, as some devices perform better for your preferred materials than others. And it’s worth taking that into account. Here is another great source online that helps teach you how to choose the best vaporizer.

Price

Prices vary, from around $30 to around $400. But, as my old man used to say: you get what you pay for. If you have the money, it's a good idea to invest it in the best vaporizer you can afford (‘the best’ being the one that has the qualities that are important to you).

That said, not all inexpensive vaporizers are bad, and not all expensive vaporizers are worth the money. Again, see what more experienced vapers are saying to help you decide which device offers the best value within your budget. The following links provide you with some of the most popular devices filtered by price.

Build quality

It’s important to check the build quality of the device. Some designs are flimsy and prone to getting damaged, especially if you’re the clumsy type. This is particularly true of devices that have glass components. Some can break down after only a few months or require a bit more maintenance to keep them working efficiently. Lucky, the market’s full of great options.

The problem is that, while a device might look great on the outside, it’s what goes on in the inside that really counts, and this is hard to judge just from looking at it.

The best tip is to read the reviews and comments on a wide range of websites. Folks who have already tried out a particular device are the best placed to tell you how well it’s been put together and how well it functions.

Also, look for a manufacturer’s warranty. These are usually only offered by makers who are really confident it the build quality of their product.

As I say, the market’s full of great options. The competition between manufacturers is fierce, which means they’re generally keen to ensure their devices don’t disappoint. Again, find out what other vapers are using and you won’t go far wrong. Customer reviews are very helpful and usually the consensus is on the right path.

Vapor quality

This is ultimately what it all comes down to: the quality and flavor of the vapor your device produces.

Flavor is one of the more subjective qualities when it comes to vaping. But what creates good flavor (apart from the quality of your material itself) are the heating chamber, air pathway, and mouthpiece.

Glass is the best material to have in a vaporizer. Although it’s breakable, it won’t affect the flavor at all because of its smoothness and purity. However, because they’re more efficient at heating up and cooling off - and also because they are less fragile than glass - ceramic and stainless steel are also commonly used, especially within dry herb vaporizers. While they detract from flavor just a little (it’s hard to notice unless you’re a real connoisseur), either of these materials still produce excellent flavor. So don’t get too hung up about it.

Heating temperature also affects flavour. As a general rule, lower heating temperature produce a smoother taste but smaller clouds, while high temperature produce larger clouds but a harsher taste. Look for a vaporizer which has good and accurate temperature control, so you can experiment to get the vapor quality you prefer.

Convection vs. conduction

Some devices heat your material by passing hot air through it (convection) while others heat it by direct contact with a hot surface (conduction). The general consensus is that convection heating is more efficient and gets more from your material than conduction heating does.

However, it comes at a price. Convection is more difficult – and more expensive – to achieve. Hence, conduction heating is more common in portable vaporizers

The biggest drawback to conduction vaporizers is that you run the risk of combusting your material instead of vaporizing it. Conduction is also an uneven method of heating, which means you have to periodically stir or shake the material.

Portability,discreteness and ease of use

One of the most important considerations in choosing a portable vaporizer is its ease of use. Portable vaporizers lack the hefty power supplies found in desktop models, so you’ll need to think about how often and how long you want your sessions to last. By far the most prevalent portable vaporizers use replaceable and.or rechargeable batteries to power their heat source. Some are compatible with standard AA batteries, making them a bit more versatile.

Chargeable devices come with their own USB-ready chargers, which mean you can recharge almost anywhere you have a power source.A number of portable vaporizers on the market are designed for discrete use. These devices often have profiles that make them look like pens, drink cups, asthma inhalers, and other common items. While stealth vaporizers are fairly inconspicuous, some users may find them lacking in functionality. Some don't have precision temperature controls or quite as many safety features. Nonetheless, their relatively low price means they still serve a function as carry-along devices.

As with everything, however, the technology is always improving. A number of portable vaporizers feature digital temperature controls that allow users to select specific heat-outputs. Others simply incorporate level switches with preset high/low functionality. Advanced heat control systems are generally more expensive though.

Also bear in mind that small vaporizers are often harder to clean and maintain than larger models. While portable vaporizers are fine for occasional use, some lack the build quality needed to survive wear and tear, and cheaper models with non-removable heat elements may be irreparable following breakdowns.

Conclusion

Portable vaporizers can be fun ways to vape on the go, and there are a number of options available. The two golden rules when choosing the best one for your needs are:

Consider functionality and practicality before novelty.

Make sure to do your research. Find out what others are saying about the various devices on the market and be guided by their experience. For more information on choosing a vaporizer you can read our vaporizer tips and advice article.

When your ready to start browsing the industries best devices - You can choose from one of the price filters below:

Introduction

Vaping is popular in the cannabis community. It offers users a healthier, safer alternative to lighting a joint or smoking a bong. Here we will touch on some vaporizer tips and advice that you may find useful.

You might find it daunting when starting out. Here are a handful of tips to help you get the best out of your vaping experience. The key virtue of vaping is that it avoids combustion. Unlike smoking, vaping extracts the main compounds from the plant without burning the plant material. There are two main types of vaporizer. One uses convective heating, while the other uses conductive heating. Convective vaporizers heat the air around the plant material. Conductive vaporizers heat the surface underneath it.

Inhaling cannabis smoke exposes you to many adverse health effects similar to those of smoking tobacco. Because vaping produces vapor instead of smoke, it offers users a healthier alternative to smoking. It also extracts more cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds from your buds. THC, CBD, and other key components in cannabis evaporate at low temperatures (300+°F or 150+°C). Joints, bongs and blunts burn at much higher temperatures and waste a lot of weed. By vaping, you can heat your herb to the exact temperature needed to extract its essential compounds. It also means you use less weed.

Grinding your material

You first need to grind your herb. Using a grinder helps to break down your cannabis buds to a fine and even quality. This releases more cannabinoids (like THC), from your plant material. Not every dry herb vaporizer needs the same grind. At lot depends on whether you have a conduction vaporizer or a convection vaporizer.If you have a conduction vaporizer, you need to grind your herb as fine as you can. There are a number of reasons for this. First, to transfer heat efficiently, your herb needs to be compact and this is best achieved with a fine grind. Secondly, you want as many particles as possible in contact with the wands in the heating chamber.

The finer your grind, the more particles you'll expose to contact. To grind your herb this level of fineness, you need a proper herb grinder. If you have a convection vaporizer, your herb is heated by the circulation of hot air. So the trick here is to maximize airflow in your herb chamber. Grinding your flower increases the surface-area of exposure of your herb. This means that the hot air will heat it more thoroughly. 'Finger-grinding' produces the more fluffy grind that's perfect for convection vaporizers. But if you’re vaping large amounts, there are herb grinders that provide you with the same effect.

Loading your vaporizer

To pack your vape, you first need to remove the cover to your herb chamber. Then you take your ground herb and gently load it into the chamber. Remember that, when using your vape, air needs to pass through the chamber. So, make sure you don't overfill your herb or pack it too tightly. Give it room to breathe! All vapes are different and have varying heating methods. Convection-style vapes generally perform best with loosely packed herb. On the other hand, conduction-style vapes generally perform best with a tighter pack.

To optimize your vaping sessions, experiment with tighter and looser packs. A lot of this is down to personal preference and experimenting is part of the fun. But packing your vaporizer is essential to producing the experience you want. How you pack your vaporizer depends on whether you have a conduction or convection vaporizer.If you have a conduction vaporizer, pack it tightly, but not so tightly that there's no airflow. The optimal packing-level is different per vaporizer. It also depends on what you like, and ultimately you'll have to experiment yourself.As a general rule, though, if you have a convection vaporizer, pack it loosely to allow a proper airflow. With convection vaporizers, never fill it more than 80%-90% - and never compress it.

Temperature range and its effects

Having packed your vaporizer, you now have to fire it up. Most vapes have adjustable temperature settings, which influences the quality of your vapor. Generally, low temperatures deliver more flavorful hits, while higher temperatures deliver stronger hits. It's a good idea to start at lower temperatures, then work your way up to the higher temperatures. Again, experiment until you find out what's right for you. You should refer to your personal vape manual for specific instructions. The following guidelines provide only general advice.

Different temperatures serve different vaping needs. The higher the heat, the closer you'll come to a smoke-like experience and the stronger effect your vapor will have. However, the higher you set your temperature the more your flavor will spoil. It's called the ‘burnt popcorn taste’. This taste becomes more prevalent the higher in temperature you go. Your vapor will also be harsher, but you’ll get larger and more intense clouds. In general: Low temperatures (320°F/160°C - 356°F/180°C) will give you:

best flavor

light mental effects

very weak bodily effects

Mid temperatures (356°F/180°C - 392°F/200°C) will give you:

good flavor

moderate to strong mental effects

moderate to strong physical effects

High temperatures (392°F/200°C - 446°F/230°C) will give you:

harsh flavor

intense mental effects

very strong physical effects

larger, more intense clouds

Battery Conservation

When you think about it, the batteries are the single most important piece of vaping kit. If you don’t have power, you don’t have vapor. When you notice your battery starting to die, don’t let it die completely. Connect it to the charger. It can take an age to charge from scratch, and the last thing you need when you feel like a sesh is a flat battery. When the battery is fully charged, remove it from the charger. It might seem like a good idea to keep it on until you're ready to use it, but this can affect the battery life.

A lot of batteries have what's called ‘ego threading’, which means the charger screws right onto the battery. Don’t over-tighten this, as it could damage the charger or battery. Make sure the battery isn’t getting hot when in use. This is a warning that something’s wrong. Take it out right away and troubleshoot what the problem might be.Don’t use batteries that have rips in the wrapping or are dented or damaged in any other way. These can leak out and damage your device. Most importantly, don’t leave your batteries in direct sunlight. This can cause them to explode. Keep them in a cool dark place.

Size and portability

Vaporizers come in all different shapes and sizes, from desktop to pens. In between is the portable vaporiser, which is a compromise between the power of the desktop and the portability and discreteness of the pen.

Desktop vaporizers are the original dry herb vaporizers. Typically, desktop vapes offer precise temperature control and different options for inhalation. The most common vapor path is a whip style, which is comprised of glass and medical grade tubing to inhale the vapors produced. Forced-air units employ fans to drive heat over the vaping materials. Because of their size, desktop vaporizers are for home use.

Portable vaporizers offer the option of on-the-go vaping. Thanks to rechargeable batteries, these vapes are not tied to an outlet. While some offer dual functionality, the majority are optimized for either dry herb or concentrate vaping. The quality of the vapor created varies, depending on the type of heating element employed. Ceramic or glass offers better flavor.

Vape pens are generally conduction vaporizers - that is, they heat material directly against the heating element. This means a vape pen may not have the kind of vapor purity that a portable vaporizer or desktop vape has. But it’s certainly more discreet, easy-to-use, and affordable. Vape pens come in three types: dry herb pens, wax pens, and e-liquid pens. Some vape pens are hybrid. Vape pens offer the most inconspicuous usage and usability for the beginner.

Final tips

Clean your vape after every session. Herb is sticky after exposure to heat. For smooth running sessions, you definitely need to clean your vape of any old residue.

Avoid poking sharp metallic objects down your herb chamber, because this may cause damage. Instead, use a slightly damp cotton swab to clean the inside of the chamber.

Make sure your vape is charged! If your vape isn’t charged, this can seriously ruin your session by cutting it short.

Avoid the wrong herbs. Wet herbs won’t vaporize properly. Neither will overly dry herbs. If you can crush the herb into a powder between your fingers, don’t use it.

Enjoy!

We hope these tips help you avoid the most common stumbling blocks when starting to vape. If you are looking to learn more about vaporizers you can read our article on how to choose the best vaporizer here.

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